Fuel-economy rules not the cause of rising auto prices: analysis

Stephen Edelstein Dec 30, 2016 Fuel gauge Enlarge Photo Lobbyists for big automakers, both domestic and foreign, make no secret about their desire for lower fuel-economy standards. One argument presented to support a lowering of standards is that the cost of compliance with current rules will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher new-car prices. Carmakers must implement efficiency-boosting technologies on a larger scale, said Mitch Bainwol, head of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers lobbying group, and this could "put new vehicles out of financial reach of the average new-car purchaser.". DON'T MISS: Three big automaker myths about CAFE: busted by Consumers Union Yet while the prices of new cars may be increasing, fuel-economy rules are not to blame , argue analysts Alan Baum and Dan Luria in a recent op-ed published by The Hill in response to Bainwol's com...